High Prevalence of Influenza A (H۱N۱ and H۳N۲) Infection in South Iran

Background: Influenza A is divided into a number of subtypes, the most common of which are circulating H۳N۲ and H۱N۱. Influenza A and B viruses, which normally circulate in humans (human influenza viruses), are responsible for seasonal influenza pandemics each year. This study evaluated the prevalence of influenza in Hormozgan province and determined the type and subtypes of influenza circulating in the community.Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in a single center on ۱۲۳۷ patients with acute respiratory syndrome and flu-like symptoms in Hormozgan province, Iran from August ۲۰۲۲ to December ۲۰۲۲. Eventually, patients’ data such as the age, gender, and hospitalization rate of patients with influenza underwent investigation.Results: Out of a total of ۱۲۳۷ samples of patients, ۳۴۹ (۲۸.۲%) cases were diagnosed with positive influenza and ۸۸۸ (۷۱.۸۰%) cases were negative. Of ۳۴۹ cases of positive influenza, ۳ and ۳۴۶ cases were diagnosed with influenza B and A, respectively. The results represented that out of a total of ۳۴۹ positive cases of influenza, ۲۱۶ (۶۱.۹۰%) and ۱۳۳ (۳۸.۱۰%) people were hospitalized and visited as outpatients, respectively.Conclusion: From August ۲۰۲۲ to December ۲۰۲۲, Hormozgan province in the south of Iran witnessed an influenza peak with an increase in the prevalence of H۱N۱ and H۳N۲ subtypes. The dominant subtype of this peak was H۳N۲ influenza, but the prevalence of the H۱N۱ subtype also demonstrated a significant increase. Finally, the cases of hospitalization of patients with positive influenza represented an increase.

Keywords:

Influenza , H۱N۱ subtype , H۳N۲ subtype , Hormozgan province , Outbreak